Mumbai: Three monkeys enter Powai Cosmopolitan Housing Society almost every other day, spending hours inside environmental activist Anamika Sharma’s flat, exploring her home, nibbling on offerings, and then departing without disturbance. The gentle pair, named Nandini and Nandgram, and their playful baby, Nandu, prompted a fresh alarm over Mumbai’s vanishing forests.Sharma viewed the family’s repeated visits as a warning of collapsing ecological buffers around the city. “These animals aren’t invading our spaces out of malice. Their forests are shrinking. Their habitats are being encroached upon. They’re simply coming to us because they have nowhere left to go,” said Sharma. She added, “Nandu’s frustration when hungry is a universal cry for survival. If we want safety for our families, we must also protect the families of the wild.” Conservation platform NatConnect Foundation warned that such sightings were part of a wider human–animal conflict spiral. NatConnect director B N Kumar, a Mumbai–Navi Mumbai resident for over 48 years, recalled a vastly different Powai. “This was once a lush, wooded valley with thousands of trees. Now it’s concrete end-to-end. When you erase forests, wildlife will spill into homes, roads, and campuses,” said Kumar and cited recent leopard attacks in the northern suburbs, the panic killing of a leopard in Pune, and the ongoing uncertainty over Konkan elephant Omkar’s fate as evidence of a system in distress. Both Sharma and Kumar have tried to contact the forest department to ensure the monkeys are safely rescued and relocated to their natural habitat rather than forced to survive in human homes and residential flats. NatConnect’s petition to the PM, under process with wildlife division of the union environment ministry, urged reforms in forest-edge regulation, corridor protection, garbage management, and scientific conflict response. The petition noted that Omkar’s case exposed structural gaps, including shrinking forests, broken corridors, and knee-jerk wildlife captures, according to the PMO grievance record. “The monkey issue may look trivial. But it’s part of a national ecological crisis. PM Modi, being an animal lover, must take a serious view,” said Kumar. Their departures leave a question over who will protect wildlife as urban spaces expand into natural habitats.

BENGALURU: The relentless pressure of a neighbourhood dispute, a looming civic notice, and a Rs 20-lakh demand he said he could not meet — a combination that pushed a 45-year-old techie to end his life inside the very house he was trying to build. Hours before his scheduled appearance before Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials, Murali Govindaraju was found hanging on the second floor of his under-construction home in Nallurahalli on Wednesday morning, leaving behind a 10-page death note accusing a neighbouring family and civic officials of driving him to suicide.

Murali, a software employee at ITPL and father of two minor girls, lived in Brookbong Layout, Whitefield. Police have arrested his neighbours Shashi Nambiar (64) and Usha (57) on charges of abetment and are searching for their son, Varun. The couple has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.Neighbourhood feud, civic notice, and a crushing Rs 20L demand

Harassed, Tortured And Repeatedly ThreatenedAccording to police, the contents of Murali’s lengthy death note mirror the allegations in a criminal complaint filed by his mother, Lakshmi Govindaraju (61). She stated that her son had been “harassed, tortured and repeatedly threatened” by the Nambiars, who allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to stop accusing him of plan violations. She said Murali told her that Wednesday was the deadline the couple had set.Murali had bought the 40×60 sqft plot in 2018 from a close relative of the Nambiars. The relationship soured soon after construction began, with Usha and Shashi repeatedly accusing him of deviation from the approved plan. Lakshmi alleged that when Murali refused to pay, Usha lodged complaints with BBMP officials, prompting them to visit the site frequently and harass him.On Wednesday morning, Murali left home around 6am, telling his family he was under pressure and that Usha and Shashi were “torturing” him. He went to the under-construction house and killed himself.Police have booked the couple under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A senior officer said preliminary inquiries show the Nambiars had filed multiple complaints since 2018, making Murali “run around BBMP offices, the police station, and local courts.”GBA officials confirmed they had issued Murali a notice asking him to appear before them on Wednesday. “Usha approached BBMP alleging violations. After a spot inspection, BBMP issued a notice,” the officer said. “The couple allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to stop harassing him.”Police said several locals have now come forward alleging that the Nambiars regularly filed complaints to extort money under the pretext of activism. “People in the area say many homes have faced similar harassment,” the officer said. “We request all affected residents to file complaints.”The friction between Murali and the Nambiars began soon after he purchased the land in 2018 — a conflict that, according to investigators, escalated over the years and ended with a devastating outcome.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan HC has held that two consenting adults have the right to be in a live-in relationship even if they have not attained legal age for marriage. The legal marriageable age for women in India is 18 years, and for men, 21. At 18, men and women are considered adults.. Justice Anoop Dhand delivered the judgment on Monday while hearing a protection petition filed by an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old youth from Kota. A copy of the order was uploaded Thursday. Both had approached the HC seeking police protection, stating they had entered a live-in relationship by mutual consent.‘Not of right age doesn’t mean one can be deprived of rights’Both had approached the high court seeking police protection, stating they had entered a live-in relationship by mutual consent. The couple executed a live-in agreement on Oct 27, 2025. However, the girl’s family opposed it and allegedly threatened to kill them. The petitioners told the court that despite submitting a written request to the police in Kota, no action was taken.Appearing for the state, Vivek Choudhary, the public prosecutor argued that since the boy had not completed 21 years of age, he could not legally marry, and, therefore, should not be allowed to be in a live-in partnership.However, the HC rejected this reasoning, observing that the “right to life and personal liberty” is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, and any threat to it amounts to a constitutional violation.Justice Dhand emphasised that the constitutional duty of the State is to protect the life and liberty of every citizen. “Only because the petitioners are not marriageable by law, they cannot be deprived of their fundamental rights,” the court observed.The court also said live-in relationships are neither illegal, nor an offence under Indian law, directing Bhilwara and Jodhpur (Rural) SPs to verify the facts mentioned in the petition, particularly the threat perception, and provide protection to the couple, if needed.

The 36th match of the Women’s Big Bash League 2025 features an exciting clash between Melbourne Renegades Women and Sydney Sixers Women at the Junction Oval, Melbourne. Both teams will look to gain crucial points as the league progresses.

Melbourne Renegades Women are currently positioned fifth in the points table with four wins from nine matches. They are coming off a 30-run loss to the Perth Scorchers Women and will be eager to break their three-match losing streak. Led by captain Sophie Molineux, the team boasts strong players like Deandra Dottin, Georgia Wareham, and Alice Capsey who can influence the game with both bat and ball.

Sydney Sixers Women, captained by Ashleigh Gardner, have shown consistent form with recent wins and hold a psychological edge having won three of their last four encounters against the Renegades. The Sixers’ squad includes experienced international stars such as Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy along with key players like Sophia Dunkley and Amelia Kerr.

MR-W vs SS-W, WBBL|11: Match details

• Date and Time: December 05; 05:10 am IST/ 11:40 pm GMT (Dec 4)/ 10:40 am Local
• Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne

MR-W vs SS-W, Head-to-Head Record in WBBL

Matches played: 19 | Melbourne Renegades won: 6 | Sydney Sixers won: 13 | No result: 0

Junction Oval Pitch Report

Junction Oval in Melbourne presents a bowler-friendly surface, historically favoring low-scoring encounters in women’s T20 cricket. Recent WBBL matches here, like Melbourne Stars Women’s 160/5 defended against Renegades’ 115 all out, underscore its assistance to pacers and spinners early on, with seam movement under lights adding challenges for batters chasing. Average first-innings scores hover around 140-160, with teams batting second winning 6 of 9 WBBL games due to dew aiding strokeplay later. Expect captains to bowl first if winning the toss, as totals beyond 170 prove rare and defenses dominate proceedings.

Squads:

Melbourne Renegades Women: Emma de Broughe, Courtney Webb, Sophie Molineux (c), Alice Capsey, Georgia Wareham, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum (wk), Issy Wong, Sarah Coyte, Charis Bekker, Milly Illingworth, Naomi Stalenberg, Tess Flintoff, Davina Perrin, Sara Kennedy

Sydney Sixers Women: Ellyse Perry, Sophia Dunkley, Alyssa Healy (wk), Ashleigh Gardner (c), Maitlan Brown, Amelia Kerr, Mady Villiers, Erin Burns, Emma Manix-Geeves, Caoimhe Bray, Lauren Cheatle, Mathilda Carmichael, Courtney Sippel, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua

Also READ: WBBL|11: Phoebe Litchfield sizzles in Sydney Thunder’s emphatic win over Brisbane Heat

MR-W vs SS-W, WBBL|11: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Melbourne Renegades wins the toss and bowl first
• Sydney Sixers powerplay score: 40-50
• Sydney Sixers total score: 130-140

Case 2:

• Sydney Sixers wins the toss and bowl first
• Melbourne Renegades powerplay score: 45-55
• Melbourne Renegades total score: 140-150

Match result: Team bowling first to win the game.

Also READ: WBBL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner’s all-round display leads Sydney Sixers to an 16-run victory over Melbourne Stars

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

BJP state chief Nainar Nagenthran (right), party veteran H Raja (centre) and other partymen being arrested in Thiruparankundram on Thursday

MADURAI: The Karthigai Deepam issue has snowballed into a major controversy in Tamil Nadu, with the state govt Thursday defying for the second time a Madras HC order allowing lighting of the lamp at Deepathoon (a stone lamp pillar) atop Thiruparankundram hills, even as a division bench of the HC rejected its appeal against a contempt order. Meanwhile, BJP state chief Nainar Nagendran and dozens of others were detained by police during protests.State govt filed an SLP in the Supreme Court challenging the division bench order, which dismissed its appeal against a single bench order on a contempt plea.Earlier in the day, the bench of Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan dismissed the state’s appeal, saying it was meant to preempt contempt action. The bench upheld Justice G R Swaminathan’s orders permitting lighting of the lamp at Deepathoon with CISF protection. The single bench had also initiated contempt proceedings Wednesday after the Deepam was lit at Uchi Pillaiyar Temple, not at Deepathoon atop the hill, as directed by it on Dec 1.Despite the single-bench order on Wednesday, police had prevented the petitioner and 10 others, who had been allowed to light the lamp at Deepathoon, from proceeding to the hills citing prohibitory orders.Following the rejection of the state’s appeal Thursday, Justice Swaminathan resumed the contempt proceedings, quashed the prohibitory orders imposed by Madurai district administration, and once again permitted lighting of the lamp atop the hill, this time under protection of Madurai city police. If officials defied the order, “harsh consequences will ensue”, the judge said.However, police once again stopped the individuals from proceeding, saying it would be detrimental to public order. It was a re-enactment of the scene from Wednesday at the Thiruparankundram foothills, with hundreds of BJP workers and Hindu group activists protesting against state govt, and over 1,000 police personnel deployed. BJP’s Nagendran had an argument with police before he was detained along with several others, including H Raja and Amarprasad Reddy, and about 50 cadres to prevent them from proceeding to the hills.Meanwhile, the HC division bench will on Dec 5 take up the appeals filed by Madurai district collector and executive officer of the Subramaniya Swamy temple authorities, challenging the order passed by the single bench allowing the lamp to be lit at Deepathoon.Justice Swaminathan had Monday allowed Rama Ravikumar and other petitioners to light the lamp at Deepathoon, brushing aside objections on proximity of the site to a dargah and the fact that the lamp has been lit at Uchi Pillaiyar Temple for decades.

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Photo credit: X/@eastbengal_fc

NEW DELHI: Punjab FC lost 3-1 to East Bengal in the first semifinal of the AIFF Super Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on Thursday.With this win, East Bengal entered their third AIFF Super Cup final. It is also their second final of the season after losing the IFA Shield to Mohun Bagan SG.East Bengal went ahead in the 12th minute when Mohamad Bashim Rashid scored. Punjab FC equalised in the 34th minute through a Daniel Ramirez penalty.Kevin Sibille restored East Bengal’s lead in first-half stoppage time (45+3), and captain Saul Crespo scored in the 71st minute to secure the result for Oscar Bruzon’s team.Both sides began the match slowly, trying to settle into the game. Punjab had the first clear chance when Pramveer met a cross in the tenth minute, but his header went wide.Punjab were without suspended defender Muhammed Uvais, and the team seemed unsettled in defence. East Bengal took advantage of this when they struck in the 12th minute from a short corner. Miguel Ferreira sent a cross that was only partly cleared. The ball fell to Rashid outside the box, and he sent a low shot that went under goalkeeper Muheet Shabir’s glove. It was Rashid’s first goal for East Bengal.Punjab responded by moving higher up the field. Their equaliser came after an error inside the box. A header from Ricky Shabong struck Bipin Singh’s arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. Ramirez sent the spot kick past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.East Bengal pushed back soon after. Just before half-time, Ferreira sent in another corner from the left. Sibille jumped higher than his marker and scored with a header. East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon received a second yellow card while celebrating the goal.In the second half, East Bengal controlled more of the play. In the 56th minute, Bipin Singh moved down the left and took a shot that Shabir saved. Hiroshi Ibusuki reached the rebound but headed the ball off target.Punjab attempted to create openings through Suhail and Ramirez but could not break East Bengal’s defence.East Bengal scored again in the 71st minute. Ferreira moved past multiple Punjab players inside the box before passing the ball to Crespo, who sent a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.